Last week I was faced with a sticky situation. While talking to a friend about Bruce Jenner (Kaitlyn) I simply expressed that television was giving him (or her) too much air time. I also said that they were giving Kim Kardashian too much air time. My sweet friend became very angry and laid into me. Rather than hearing what I said which had nothing to do with my approval or disapproval of Bruce or Kim, she only heard Bruce Jenners name and she was furious. She began to tell me that I was a "right wing conservative" and she was an extreme left wing person. She proceeded to defend Bruce's sex change, then began to say that Southern Baptist were brain washed and only believed what they believe because that's what their parents told them to believe. She said that I believe that Southern Baptist is the ONLY denomination that's is right (which is completely not true) but she believes that any religion could be right about God. She stated that she is not a believer and never will be.
I was stunned by her reaction. I wasn't even discussing my beliefs about transgender people. Only disguising that television gives way too much air time to things that are not important, and not enough air time to things that really matter.
I did speak to her about my beliefs and about Christ. She opened the door for me to share my faith even though she was angry. She refused to listen to me, rather she became more angry.
When the dust settled I began to think about the labels we put on people. My friend told me that I am very intolerant. Little did she realize just how tolerant I am toward people that believe differently from me. I have a very good friend who is an Atheist, family members who are agnostic, a few friends who are gay, a Muslim family that I know, and so on. I don't think "tolerant" is even the right word for it. I disagree with my friends life styles and beliefs. They all know how I believe and what I believe. My heart is fill with love for these people who live their lives in such a different manner than I do. We all get along very well, and love each other. I tell them I love them. They tell me they love me.
My friend that was angry with me is really an acquaintance. If she knew me very well she would be surprised at some of the things I believe is acceptable. You see, "labels" can really get you into trouble. No, I'm not in the extreme right wing camp. I think for myself. My beliefs are based on the Bible, not on man made rules. When you label people, it causes strife and hatred. No one fits perfectly into a label. Whether it's a political label, a social label, or an ethnic label, labels are dangerous. They put people into categories. And categories and stereotypes are not fair to anyone.
As I look back on my conversation with my friend last week, I realize that while she said that I do not have tolerance toward people who are different than me, she was not being intolerant of me. She was full of anger and intolerance toward me, and toward Christians in general. But if you really think about it, at our hearts we are all the same. We were born with a craving for love, and a need for Jesus who is the Lover of our soul. Through circumstances, and what life hands we make a series of choices. What we believe, who we become, how we love or hate, and whether or not we let the horrible things that can happen to us along the way make us better or make us bitter. Of course there are some people that are just pure evil. I am referring to Isis, Manson, child molesters, serial killers, and so on. But even with these people, they were born as an innocent baby and somewhere along the way they made choices about who they would become and what they would do with their life.
My friend and I have far more in common than what we disagree on. We both love, are witty, have children, enjoy life, have friends in common and are good people. Maybe we should all focus more on what we agree on, and less on what we disagree on?
For my dear friends who are Christians, labeling people and hating them because of that label is a very dangerous road to be on. It is arrogant. It is not Christ-like. We do not know their heart. That is for God to judge. How can we reach a world that is lost if we are picking and choosing who we will talk to because they are different than us? In order to be effective for the kingdom, we must love those that are different than us. That does not mean that we agree with their life, their sin or our differences. It only means that we are doing what Christ taught us to do. "Love those who hate you. Pray for those who persecute you." That is our mission here on earth. When you follow what the Bible teaches, there is no room for Christians to hate. We are all human and there will be conflict in life because of our sin nature. But as we seek to live a righteous life, there is no room for stereotypes and labels. We are commanded to love. We are commanded to forgive. That's exactly how we must live our lives, even when we disagree.
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